TRAINING
Bridging the gap – High Tide partners , from left , Dean Benson of Visualsoft , Toby Joel ( Jacksons Law Firm ), Fran Cormican ( Intelect ), High Tide chair Mark Easby ( Better ), Nikki Sayer ( Casper Shipping ), David Wilson ( PD Ports ), Lauren Bywater ( High Tide ) and Ruth Conner ( Active Chartered Financial Planners ) on Stockton ’ s Infinity Bridge .
CREATING SHIPSHAPE CAREERS
WORDS : SARAH WALKER
Foundation ’ s collaborative approach to bridging skills gaps
Collaboration between schools , colleges , businesses and industry leaders is key to highlighting the exciting job opportunities available across Teesside . That ’ s the message from the High Tide Foundation this summer , ahead of a number of exciting programmes aimed at introducing young people to a vast array of careers that can be forged on the banks of the Tees .
The High Tide Foundation exists to raise aspirations and change perceptions of Teesside as an area where , instead of diminishing job opportunities , there are a myriad of opportunities in many different sectors .
Everything from the new industries being developed on the Teesworks former steel site to Teesside jobs in service sectors such as IT and finance and the burgeoning digital and creative sectors are promoted by the foundation , which is also keen to promote diversity and equality in employment .
High Tide is looking ahead to an exciting maritime and shipping careers day on July 19 , hosted by PD Ports .
The day has been developed through a collaborative working group , which includes Maritime UK , PD Ports , Casper Shipping , NEECC , Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers , North East School of Shipping and Stockton Riverside College .
It will include a boat trip along the River Tees , as well as a land-based tour of PD Ports world-class port facilities , to showcase the vast and growing maritime opportunities at Teesport .
Keynote speeches from maritime educators , students and businesses in the sector will follow .
The working group aspires to encourage more focus around maritime career education within secondary schools . With Teesside being the first in the UK to provide L3 and L5 maritime ashore qualifications , it is crucial we promote this industry to students throughout secondary education .
The July river trip and events during Maritime Week will take the charity back to its roots on the banks of the Tees .
They also demonstrate a collaborative approach to showcasing riverside opportunities is as strong today as it was when Kevin Shakesheff , chairman of Casper Shipping , and the former CEO of PD Ports , David Robinson , first founded the High Tide Foundation .
Lauren Bywater , general manager of the High Tide Foundation , explains : “ Maritime and shipping was our founding sector – High Tide was born from Teesport – and has extended its work to IT , digital and creative sectors , finance and others .
“ Maritime and shipping remains such a massive industry on Teesside , yet it is a hidden sector and a lot of people from the area don ’ t know about the port , the river and the opportunities around them .
112 | Tees Business